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Daily news - 24th April 2026 |
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UK news
Implementation of the Treatment and Recovery Portfolio of the 'From Harm to Hope' drug strategy in England
We conducted a mixed-methods process evaluation of the first three years of implementation of the Treatment and Recovery Portfolio of the UK government's 10-year drug strategy, From Harm to Hope. We found that the Portfolio brought welcomed funding into the treatment and recovery sector after an extended period of disinvestment. The Portfolio has largely been implemented as planned, despite challenges related to funding uncertainty and some delays | RAND, UK
Implementation and early impacts of the Housing Support Grant in England
Dame Carol Black's 2019–2021 independent review of drugs highlighted the importance of safe, suitable and stable housing in the treatment and recovery journey. In 2022, through the Housing Support Grant (HSG), the former UK government provided up to £53m across three years to help local authorities (LAs) address the housing needs of people who use alcohol and/or other drugs. This evaluation aimed to understand how the HSG has been implemented by reviewing 28 plans and examining three case study sites in England | RAND, UK
Drug and alcohol support for people experiencing rough sleeping or at risk: what £262m achieved across 83 areas
Ipsos, working with Groundswell and Dr Stephen Green of Sheffield Hallam University, has completed an evaluation of the Rough Sleeping Drug and Alcohol Treatment Grant (RSDATG) and has now published its findings. Substance use is both a cause and consequence of rough sleeping. To respond, the government invested up to £262m (2021–2025) in the Rough Sleeping Drug and Alcohol Treatment Grant (RSDATG) for the 83 local authorities in England with the highest need | IPSOS et al, UK
The barriers and facilitators to supporting, commissioning and working with Lived Experience Recovery Organisations in systems of care in England
Lived Experience Recovery Organisations (LEROs) are peer-led groups run by individuals with lived experience of alcohol and/or other drug use, treatment or recovery. They offer direct support to people who use alcohol and/or other drugs or who are in recovery. This study aims to identify the barriers and facilitators to supporting, commissioning and working with LEROs in effective systems of care for people who use alcohol and/or other drugs | RAND, UK
Evaluation of depot buprenorphine provision in treatment and recovery services in England
Improving access to and retention in opioid treatment remains a central objective of drug policy in England. As part of the Supplemental Substance Misuse Treatment and Recovery Grant (SSMTRG), local areas have been able to expand the use of depot buprenorphine (DB), a long-acting injectable formulation of opioid substitution treatment. DB offers a potential alternative to daily supervised oral medication and may support engagement for some individuals. This study examines how DB has been implemented and used within treatment and recovery services in England, and explores associated outcomes and experiences | RAND, UK
Integrated care for people who use alcohol and/or other drugs
People who use alcohol and/or other drugs frequently experience co-occurring mental and physical health problems, yet these needs are often addressed separately, resulting in fragmented care. The UK government's 10-year drug strategy sought to improve integration between treatment and recovery services and wider health services, supported by the Supplementary Substance Misuse Treatment and Recovery Grant (SSMTRG). This study examined the early impact of the SSMTRG on service integration, identifying barriers, facilitators, and examples of good practice | RAND, UK
Factors that influence employees' perceptions and experiences of working within the treatment and recovery sector in England
Akey component of the former UK government's 10-year drug strategy is to create a world-class treatment and recovery system through the Drug and Alcohol Treatment and Recovery Workforce Transformation Programme. This study aims to help understand how the workforce transformation programme can support the development of the treatment and recovery workforce as part of the strategy | RAND, UK
Prison leavers in substance misuse treatment: 4-week outcomes
Analysis of mortality and re-incarceration rates within 4 weeks of release for prison leavers receiving substance misuse treatment in England. Key findings include that: Drug-related deaths account for 62% of all deaths occurring in the first four weeks after leaving prison and Prison leavers with an identified opiate need face the greatest risk of mortality in the period immediately following release | OHID and MoJ, UK
State of the Family Support Sector 2026
The purpose of this survey is to look at the current state of play of drug and alcohol family support. This includes in terms of delivery, sustainability, funding and partnerships. We intend to find out what has changed since our previous State of the Sector report in 2023. This survey will run until Monday 1st June 2026 after which point the findings will be written up into a report and disseminated nationally. This survey is open to any employee of an organisation which provides support for families affected by substance use | Adfam, UK
Nine in ten Britons back tougher drink-drive laws as Government consultation to reduce legal limit closes next month
A survey of 2,000 adults by breathalyser firm AlcoSense found that 87 per cent believe stricter laws are needed to stop people getting behind the wheel under the influence | This is Money, UK
New SARG study finds young people are three times more likely to start with alcohol than no/lo alternatives
New research from the Sheffield Addictions Research Group (SARG) and University College London (UCL) has found that young people aged 16-25 in Great Britain are three times more likely to start drinking alcohol than alcohol-free and low-alcohol (no/lo) alternatives | SARG, UK
Alcohol and the Party Manifestos
On 7th May people across the country will head to the polls to elect the next Scottish Parliament. All the main parties have now published their manifestos setting out their policies and priorities for the next parliamentary term | Alcohol Focus Scotland, UK
Real Support, Real Stories: WithYou in Cornwall - WithYou - video
Every year around 4,100 adults are supported by local drug and alcohol charity WithYou, with 37% struggling with opiates, 33% with alcohol, and 30% with a range of other drugs. WithYou in Cornwall supports clients with one-to-one meetings with a key worker, support groups with peers, medication, free needle exchanges, supply of the overdose-reversal drug naloxone, and help for family and friends of those who are struggling... | WithYou, UK
The RUFUS Trial
Tuesday, May 5 • 11 AM - 12 PM GMT+1. Join us for our next webinar, "The RUFUS Trial: Could the Benzodiazepine Antidote Flumazenil be used Safely and Effectively Pre-hospital?" with Prof Michael Eddleston | DRNS, UK
Vaping still allowed at Royal Stoke - despite smoking ban
Vaping is still allowed at Stoke-on-Trent's main hospital. Vapers are asked to use the old smoking shelters within the grounds of Royal Stoke University Hospital | Stoke Sentinel, UK
Everyone’s a Winner at Forward’s Dragon’s Den–Style Showcase in London
A powerful celebration of resilience, creativity and second chances took centre stage today as aspiring entrepreneurs with lived experience of the criminal justice system pitched their ideas at a Dragon’s Den–style event in London, and in a rare twist, everyone walked away a winner | Forward Trust, UK
Gang used fishing boat to smuggle £1.4m of ketamine
A gang of drug smugglers who snuck £1.4m of ketamine into Suffolk using a fishing boat have been jailed | BBC, UK
International news
Trump administration reclassifies cannabis as less dangerous
The US Department of Justice has officially reclassified cannabis as less dangerous, marking a major shift in the country's drug policy | BBC, UK
‘Can I have some, please?’: has Trump opened the door to a psychedelic future?
Order to speed hallucinogen research hailed as ‘threshold moment’ but concerns remain over access and protections | Guardian, UK
The Health and Economic Benefits of Tackling Non-Communicable Diseases: United Kingdom
Risk factors such as air pollution, harmful alcohol use, insufficient physical activity, obesity, smoking, and unhealthy diet are major drivers of the NCD burden. In 2022, The UK's overall risk factor profile was mixed: three more favourable than the OECD average, two lagged behind, and one was missing. The UK performed particularly well on smoking, where it had 11.2% of the population who smoke daily compared to the OECD average of 15.1% | OECD, France
Coming soon: European Drug Report 2026 to be released on 9 June in Brussels
New substances, new markets, new risks — understanding Europe’s changing drug landscape starts with solid facts. On 9 June, the European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA) will launch the European Drug Report 2026: Trends and Developments in Brussels, delivering the latest evidence on the state of the drugs problem in Europe. Drawing on data from 29 countries (EU-27, Norway and Türkiye), the comprehensive analysis covers drug use and supply as well as drug-related harms and responses | EUDA, Portugal
Proportions and correlates of high-risk cannabis use in Australia—A cross-sectional analysis of the 2022–2023 National Drug Strategy Household Survey
A minority proportion of Australians who consume cannabis appear to meet criteria for high-risk use. Daily use, early age of initiation, and high psychological distress may be key risk factors | Addiction, UK
Study highlights gaps in opioid use disorder care during pregnancy
Opioid use disorder during pregnancy remains a critical yet under-addressed public health issue in the U.S., according to a new study at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health. Although effective, evidence-based treatments exist, many pregnant individuals face barriers to accessing timely and appropriate care. Despite clear clinical guidelines recommending medication for opioid use disorder for all pregnant women with OUD, fewer than half receive this treatment | News Medical, USA
DOJ Reclassifies Medical Marijuana as Schedule III, Sets New Hearing Date
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche has signed an order moving state-licensed medical marijuana products from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act. Though non-medical marijuana remains a Schedule I drug, as of April 23 a hearing set to begin in June will “evaluate broader changes to marijuana’s status under federal law.” | Filter Magazine, USA
Blogs, comment and opinion
Substitute medication proven to reduce the risk of death on prison release
A new (23 April 2026) joint MoJ/OHID report analyses the outcomes of prison leavers in England between August 2018 and December 2022 receiving substance misuse treatment. It assesses mortality and re-incarceration rates within 4 weeks of prison release | Russell Webster, UK
Breaking the cycle of drugs, debt and violence in prisons
John Podmore calls for consistent leadership, clear accountability and purposeful regimes, while Enver Solomon says drugs flourish in conditions shaped by staff shortages and a lack of meaningful activity | Guardian letters, UK
The Smokefree Generation: Everything You Need to Know
The Tobacco and Vapes Bill has been agreed by the UK Government. The central part of the Bill is the smokefree generation policy. Here’s everything you need to know about who it will affect and how it will work | ASH blog, UK
Big Tobacco is lying - there's no 'personal choice' in smoking addiction
This legislation is about protecting the next generation from being drawn in by a uniquely toxic consumer product that strips people of real choice after the first cigarette is lit, writes Dr Ian Walker | LBC, UK
We must save the right to smoke: Liberals must not put down the sword against paternalism
The smoke, alas, has cleared. The Tobacco and Vapes Bill has finally passed Parliament. This is clearly not the finest hour for liberalism. Yet this mustn’t mean liberals give up on opposing the nanny state, because the Act remains an outrage... | The Critic, UK
A Review of Trump’s Recent Psychedelic Executive Order
On Saturday, Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at accelerating clinical research into psychedelic drugs. The order focuses on expanding federal funding, reducing bureaucratic barriers, and speeding up regulatory timelines. The move signals a notable shift in U.S. federal posture toward psychedelics—distinct from ongoing developments at the state level—and arguably represents one of the most significant federal actions on psychedelic research and access to date | Drug Science, UK